Championship team announce the sad passing of Championship final winning captain John Burnett

Halifax Panthers have announced the sad news that their former captain and Hall of Famer, John Burnett, has sadly passed away aged 87.

Burnett captained the side to the Championship final in 1965 and spent 13 years with the club, the only side he ever represented.

Halifax announced the sad news on their Twitter page.

The Club are saddened to report the death of Hall of Famer John Burnett

A Championship final winning captain with Fax in 1965, one club man Burnett spent 13 years at Thrum Hall (1954-67)

Our sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends at this sad time#FAX150 pic.twitter.com/L830szwor6

— Halifax Panthers 🐾 (@HalifaxPanthers) December 29, 2022

Burnett represented the club over 340 times and racked up an impressive 130 tries during his 13 year career at Thrum Hall.

He was inducted into the side’s Hall of Fame alongside a host of other greats that represented Halifax and he’ll be best remembered for that 1965 Championship final victory over St Helens where Fax prevailed 15-7, with Burnett lifting the trophy.

The news follows yesterday’s sad announcement that Tony Johnson, the Huddersfield Giants legend, has passed away aged 66.

Johnson had a career spanning from 1973 to 1984 and also went on to serve the RFL as an investigator and mediator for more than a decade.

Huddersfield Giants are saddened to learn of the passing of former player Tony Johnson.

Our thoughts go out to his friends and family at this difficult time. 🖤 pic.twitter.com/QElbQKwqhS

— Huddersfield Giants 🐮🔔 (@Giantsrl) December 28, 2022

Both men will be sadly missed and Serious About Rugby League joins both clubs in sending love and thoughts to the friends and family of both brilliant men at this difficult time.